This article was compiled by Kathy Habiger, KSPA executive board member and Mill Valley High School journalism adviser. After an ACLU lawsuit against the Shawnee Mission School District over students’ First Amendment rights violations stemming from the April 2018 National School Walkouts, the KSPA executive board began a long journey supporting…...
New weather policy has best interests of student journalists in mind
By Jill Chittum, KSPA President After years of kicking around the idea, and multiple meetings where member concerns dealing with the regional contest weather policy were addressed, the KSPA executive board passed a new inclement weather policy following its December meeting in Wichita. The goal of the new policy (which…...
Motivation without conflict, Part I
By Travis Feil KSPA President-Elect After the fall conferences this past week, I’ve been contacted by several students and advisers across the state with some meaningful questions about staff relationships, leadership and dealing with problems that arise during production cycles. We’ve all had to deal with these types of concerns…...
You can lead a student to journalism class, but can you make him like it?
By Travis Feil, KSPA President-Elect A Common Problem My basic journalism course is offered opposite band and choir – both very popular courses in my district. My J1 desks, consequently, have traditionally been populated by students more interested in avoiding music than embracing journalism. They confess it, and I’m fine…...
Yet another reason every student should enroll in journalism
By Travis Feil KSPA President-Elect Last week I was sitting at my desk working on American Literature lesson plans. Exhausted and overwhelmed from moving into a new classroom, I sat staring at my computer, knowing students would be arriving for the first time the next day. My yearbook editors were…...
KSPA President: Membership pays dividends
Dear Kansas journalism advisers, Welcome back for yet another year of scholastic journalism excellence! At this time of year, most of us are just getting our teaching “sea legs” under us again after what I hope was a relaxing and restful summer vacation. That re-acclimation process takes time (which we…...
Seven Kansas students win national journalism awards from NFPW
Seven Kansas high school journalism students have placed in the National Federation of Press Women High School Communications Competition. Three of those students — Maggie Simmons and Andrew Goble from Shawnee Mission East, and Andy Wickoren from Shawnee Mission Northwest — won first place in their respective categories. The students…...
Two Kansas schools earn national Pacemaker finalist ranking
Two Kansas student digital publications have been named finalists for Pacemaker awards by the National Scholastic Press Association. The Shawnee Mission East Harbinger Online was named a national online Pacemaker finalist. The Harbinger is one of just 37 news websites to earn the distinction and one of only 18 that…...
Discussion highlights value of multimedia journalism education
Howard Finberg, the director of interactive studies at The Poynter Institute, and Jeff Jarvis from the City University of New York appeared on Minnesota Public Radio’s Dec. 20 morning program to talk about the value of a multimedia journalism education. Their discussion focuses primarily on educating college students, but it…...